Superintendent's Weekly Reflections

Hello Team FCPS!

I trust this note finds each of you enjoying a restful, reflective and renewing weekend.  As we have these weeks where our routines shift and the days become lighter longer, I hope you each find time for the things you love or have loved to do.  “We lose ourselves in the things we love. We find ourselves there, too.”  —  Kristin Martz

As I think about the many reasons we have to be grateful today, I am reminded of the incredible commitment and thoughtfulness of our staff this weekend. As I attended an early morning athletic event at Annandale High School on Saturday morning, I had already been on the phone (early in the morning) with staff regarding the possibility of snow later in the day. So many events we love to support and attend and are always vigilant for safe times and decisions. As I was sitting down to watch the girls wrestling event, Brandon Sutphin, the Annandale Director of Student Activities/Athletics (DSA), joined me to share his thoughts and excitement about the wrestling event. As we talked a bit, I was inspired by his vision for our student athletes and their possibilities moving forward. Further, I was also so thrilled to know that he and South County High School DSA, Marvin Wooten, had made sure that we had completed the swimming finals the night before. I love the foresight and problem solving as our weather continues to be so unpredictable this winter. We are blessed to have so many staff who are such great and thoughtful problem solvers. Team FCPS remains strong!! 

Some good news to share. Our Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) team, led by Shawn Sawko, has always been committed to serving students nutritious meals. But alongside the meals, something else accumulated — plastic. Plastic-wrapped cutlery, plastic utensils, plastic waste. Determined to make a change, FNS made the bold decision to transition from plastic utensils to wooden alternatives. The shift required careful planning — working with vendors, adjusting supply chains, and educating the school community on the benefits of sustainability. Since this implementation last March, the impact was clear — more than 70,000 pounds of plastic saved! A small change in materials has led to a massive reduction in waste, reinforcing the district’s commitment to environmental responsibility. With each meal served, we continue to set an example, proving that even the smallest changes can lead to a lasting impact — one wooden fork at a time. 

FCPS students and Get2Green leaders also united to host an inspiring eco-screening of “Just Eat It” at Woodson High School on the evening of February 6, raising awareness about the critical issue of food waste and igniting community action. After the film, a panel featuring representatives from FNS, Food for Others, Hands on Harvests, and student leaders engaged in a meaningful discussion on impactful food waste reduction strategies, including school share tables and food rescue efforts. They highlighted local initiatives designed to combat food waste in Fairfax County. The students played a vital role in planning and hosting this transformative event. This event truly celebrated student leadership in environmental stewardship and community engagement. Go Team FCPS!

As I mentioned last week, FCPS’ Department of Information Technology recently held its second annual Mid-Year Virtual Conference. The conference was attended by nearly 800 FCPS staff members and discussed the opportunities and challenges of artificial intelligence in education. If you were not able to attend the conference, you can watch a panel discussion of this topic on YouTube. I was joined on the panel by Dr. Nardos King, our Chief Equity Officer and four FCPS high school students. The panel was moderated by Gautam Sethi, our Chief Information Technology Officer. You can also see the entire event schedule with recordings of all presentations online. The panel offered a great conversation on how FCPS leaders and students experience AI and how they envision it will evolve in the future. I look forward to your reflections on these topics …

On Monday, I had my quarterly meeting with the Garrison Commander of Fort Belvoir, Colonel David Stewart. FCPS has two elementary schools on the base and works hard to support our military-connected students and their families. We continue to thoughtfully and collaboratively support our military connected families, students, and staff. 

Monday night, we held a meeting of the Boundary Review Advisory Committee at the Gatehouse Administration Center. Some of the key takeaways from the meeting can be found here. You can also see materials that were shared with the committee. To recap, the Superintendent’s Boundary Review Advisory Committee includes parents, caregivers and/or community members from each of FCPS’ 24 high school pyramids, together with school-based and division administrators, teachers, operational staff, and other community representatives. Their unique perspectives and insights will be invaluable as we work together to ensure this process is transparent, includes significant community participation and feedback, and always keeps students at the center of every decision. If you have not been able to attend a Community Boundary meeting yet, there is one virtual meeting remaining on Monday, February 10, 6:30-8 p.m.

I encourage you to register and receive your unique Zoom link by clicking the date above. This virtual meeting will follow the same format as the recent in-person meetings, and the same information will be shared. Please note that the virtual meeting will be capped at 400 participants to help provide a meaningful experience for all. Language interpretation will be available. You can also sign up to receive the School Boundary Review newsletter by email.

Tuesday morning, I attended a meeting with U.S. Congressman Don Beyer, as well as the superintendents from this congressional district. It was an opportunity to share thoughts related to the national policy decisions currently being both proposed and made in the new administration. We shared ideas related to ensuring the safety of our students, staff, and families, as well as the continued importance of a public education for the future of our nation. This work matters now more than ever!! 

Also Tuesday, the School Board reviewed the FY 2026 Proposed Budget at their work session. They discussed additional details regarding student enrollment and investments in students requiring additional support, market comparison data for surrounding school divisions, and an update on progress toward achieving the Baldrige Award for Performance Excellence. Baldrige is a framework used to assess and improve organizational performance across various sectors, including education. More than 85% of our proposed budget is dedicated to teaching and learning at the school site level and reflects the needs of our community’s young people in response to the changing world around us. Budget priorities include providing competitive compensation for all employees, including a 7% salary increase for all staff. 

The next step in the budget process is that Fairfax County Executive Bryan Hill will present his Advertised Budget on Tuesday, February 18, and the School Board will also hold a budget work session that day. On Thursday, February 20, the School Board will adopt its FY 2026 Advertised Budget. And on Tuesday, February 25, the School Board and Board of Supervisors will hold a joint meeting to discuss the budget. The complete FY 2026 Budget Development Calendar is available online.  

On Thursday afternoon, I met with leaders from Real Food for Kids, a non-profit organization that works to change eating behaviors and improve health outcomes for children and families in the Greater Washington Region through sustainable access to real whole foods, impactful nutrition education, and local systemic policy changes. This work continues to be important in the health of our students and the teaching and learning outcomes we celebrate. 

Prior to the School Board meeting on Thursday evening, we had the opportunity to celebrate our Virginia High School League (VHSL) champions. Congratulations to the talented FCPS students, staff, and teams recognized by VHSL for the fall 2024 season:

• Langley High School, Class 6 Golf Champion.
• Langley High School, Class 6 Girls Volleyball Champion (repeat champion).
• Robinson Secondary School, Class 6 Girls Cross Country Champion.
• Robinson Secondary School, Class 6 Cheerleading Champion.
• Chantilly High School, Esports Fall Season-League of Legends Tournament Champion.
• Woodson High School. Esports Fall Season-Rocket League Tournament Champion.
• Falls Church High School Chamber Orchestra, Virginia Music Educators Association (VMEA) Selected Performing Ensemble Group.
• Lake Braddock High School Symphony Orchestra, VMEA Selected Performing Ensemble Group.
• Thoreau Middle School Symphonic Band, VMEA Selected Performing Ensemble Group.
• West Springfield High School Wind Symphony, VMEA Selected Performing Ensemble Group.
• Glasgow Middle School Wind Ensemble, VMEA Selected Performing Ensemble Group.
• Woodson High School Wind Ensemble, VMEA Selected Performing Ensemble Group.
• Robinson Secondary School Symphonic Band, 78th Midwest International Band Clinic Selected Performance Ensemble.
• Frost Middle School, FCPS Boys Cross Country Champions.
• Frost Middle School, FCPS Girls Cross Country Champions.

In the Academic Matters section of the School Board meeting, I discussed the National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP), which is also called “The Nation’s Report Card” and was developed as a measure of the educational achievement and progress of students in grades 4 and 8. While the report shows that we have work to do as a state and a country, we need to be careful as we draw any kind of local conclusions about this assessment. In FCPS, NAEP testing was limited to eight elementary and 13 middle schools in 2024. Only 466 FCPS students (less than 2% of FCPS 4th and 8th graders) participated in NAEP testing. This represented just 0.25% of all enrolled FCPS students in K-12. FCPS does not receive student, school, or division results because NAEP results are only reported at the state and national levels.

View data from the “NAEP Proficient vs. SOL Pass Rates” graphic in an accessible format.

Because of the limited scope of NAEP, it’s useful to draw conclusions at the division level using other assessments, such as the Standards of Learning (SOL) exams. Our SOL exams had a much larger sample size (26,020 FCPS students tested, compared to less than 500 with NAEP). As you can see from the chart above, FCPS students made up 14% of the total 4th and 8th grade SOL test takers in Virginia and surpassed the state average in reading and math. As the largest school division in the Commonwealth, our students are continuing to raise the standard! We are proud of the work our students, our educators, and all those who support educators do each day.

In the Strategic Plan Update section of the School Board meeting, I discussed the Novice Teacher Instructional Coaching Program, which is new this school year and was created using existing positions. It’s extremely important to provide support to our novice teachers because the complex demands of teaching and learning take an average of 3-7 years to master and new teachers need effective support to build a strong career foundation. Nationally, nearly half of all new teachers (44%) leave the profession within their first five years. Research also shows:

• A strong link between comprehensive support for early career teachers and increased retention and efficacy rates. 
• Intensive and frequent support for teachers leads to greater outcomes for students, especially in reading and math. 
• Weekly contact between strategically selected mentors and novice teachers results in larger test score gains for students.

We’ve supported 436 FCPS teachers through the Novice Teacher Instructional Coaching Program since August, and the feedback so far has been encouraging:

• 93% of teachers reported the Novice Teacher Instructional Coach helps them reflect on their teaching practices.
• 94% of teachers reported the Novice Teacher Instructional Coach provides them with data and/or feedback to help adjust instruction. 
• 97% of teachers reported that the Novice Teacher Instructional Coach is invested in their success as a teacher. 

As part of my presentation I also shared this video, which shows first-year Centreville Elementary School teacher Emma Patane receiving support from her instructional coach Sarah Phillips in order to build confidence, refine best practices, and create engaging learning environments for her students. Having a diverse, adaptive, and supported workforce is Pillar C of the 2023-30 Strategic Plan. 

Finally, the School Board voted to approve the Proposed FCPS FY 2026-30 Capital Improvement Program (CIP). The CIP is a working budget document that shows timing and costs of improvement to school buildings, such as renovations, additions, and new schools.

Renovating existing facilities is necessary to enhance safety, modernize learning spaces, and boost energy efficiency to elevate educational quality and student well-being. Additionally, constructing new schools addresses the increasing student enrollment in rapidly growing areas of the county. This comprehensive approach ensures every student benefits from a safe, accessible, and innovative learning environment, in alignment with our broader commitment to excellence in education and the FCPS 2023-30 Strategic Plan. This work matters!!

Friday morning, I attended a celebration for Langston Hughes Middle School’s Honor Roll students. The school’s theme this year is Striving for the Gold. As I told the students, each day in a world where they could choose anything, choose to do your best, choose to do the right thing – even when no one is looking. The school’s namesake Langston Hughes himself wrote, “I have discovered in life that there are ways of getting almost anywhere you want to go, if you really want to go.” My challenge to the students is the same as my challenge to each of us here at FCPS: let us keep striving for excellence and always keep reaching for the gold!  A big thank you to Principal Mizell and the LHMS staff for their efforts. Also, a big shout out to the musicians who made this celebration even more special. Go Panthers!!

I love the indomitable spirit of our FCPS educators!!  As I attended the National District Girls Wrestling at Annandale High School on Saturday morning, I met one of our amazing FCPS teachers, of course we have educators working at many of our activity and athletic sites to support our students in a wide variety of ways and in a wide variety of locations. In this case, Sandra Benitez, an Annandale High School teacher who works primarily with our multilingual learners, is also studying to achieve her Masters degree. 

According to Sandra, “My role at Annandale High School is as a government teacher for our multilingual learners. This year I made the decision to go back to school and seek my Master’s degree. I also work as a ticket-taker for some of our home games.” I applaud both the multi-tasking as well as the day to day work of Sandra and all educators in the division; this work matters.   

Later Saturday morning, I attended the annual Mount Vernon District Town Meeting, which was held at Mount Vernon High School. As part of the meeting, the school’s String Quartet performed for attendees. It was a great event and featured both elected members of our community and a significant number of our community partners. Go Majors!!

Following the Town Hall meeting, I attended a girls basketball game between West Potomac and South County. I joined South County High School (SCHS) Principal Khoshaba as we watched a great game between two talented and athletic teams. Both teams played well. According to Principal Khoshaba, Leila, a junior at SCHS, scored her 1000^th point on the tip off. Leila said she's just glad to be part of this amazing team. I appreciate the sentiment and the recognition that the team is important to success.

Hayfield Secondary School was also hosting several choral concerts on Saturday afternoon. It was great to be able to attend one of them. Nothing helps lift the spirits on a challenging weather Saturday more than watching and listening to our amazing students in all their endeavors! I so appreciate all the efforts of the many staff, students and families who make these events possible.  Our middle school choral members performed very well indeed!!

Last week when reflecting on the state’s School Performance and Support Framework (SPSF), I introduced the “3E Ready for Life” framework, monitoring experiences that foster student readiness for college Enrollment, meaningful Employment, and military Enlistment after graduation. To explore this measure further, I’d like to take a moment to discuss the Enlistment component of the 3E framework. The United States Military uses the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) to determine if an individual is qualified to enlist in the military and to assign that individual to an appropriate military vocation. The assessment itself helps to identify areas of strength across four domains (Verbal, Math, Science and Technical, and Spatial) and matches students' skills to potential careers. While the ASVAB test is primarily intended for students seeking enlistment in the military, it can also serve additional purposes for students not considering military careers. Several FCPS high schools already use the ASVAB in high schools as a component of a career exploration program.

Students completing the ASVAB test receive customized score reports and information explaining how scores can help identify potential career areas of strength. Additionally, when paired with a Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) program, the ASVAB can fulfill industry credentialing graduation requirements. Under Virginia's School Performance and Support Framework, a student's performance on the ASVAB test will now also benefit their high schools' state accountability outcomes. Schools receive from 0.5 to 1.0 points toward the 3E Readiness framework based on established score ranges for any student scoring 31 or above for the Armed Forces Qualifying Test (AFQT) composite. As with other components of the 3E Framework, a student’s ASVAB scores do not count toward their individual grade point average or other measures of student performance, they only impact a high school’s performance category within state reporting.

Our 2023-30 Strategic Plan’s Goal 5 - Leading for Tomorrow’s Innovation commits that every FCPS student will graduate ready to thrive in life after high school and with the skills to navigate, adapt, and innovate for a sustainable future. Here in FCPS, we have a strong partnership with our nation’s military families. We have more than 13,500 military-connected students enrolled in our schools. I’m proud of FCPS’ strong partnership with our nation’s military families to help support the more than 13,500 military-connected students enrolled in our schools. Nearly half of Fairfax County public schools, 96, are currently designated as Purple Star Schools. I know firsthand the value of instilling our nation’s armed forces among the diverse, viable postsecondary pathways from which our students can choose their future. The state’s recognition of the military pathway within the SPSF 3E Readiness indicator aligns with our own values and elevates the role of our military community in FCPS and across the Commonwealth.

Thank you to Allison Hoak, principal at Cunningham Park Elementary School, for sharing this week’s Advancing Literacy segment! Allison writes that her second-grade teachers Susan Haas, Elena Heyer, and Kelly Krek cooked up ;>) a creative connection to their students’ Benchmark Advance Unit 4 reading: “Our 2nd graders brought the magic of "Stone Soup" from their Benchmark Advance lesson to LIFE today! They read about the old man who taught a village about sharing, and then recreated the story in their classroom! Each student contributed an ingredient, just like in the book, and they made a delicious soup together. It was a heartwarming lesson about community and the power of working together. Our students have never been so “hungry” to read and learn this year! P.S. The students LOVED their soup and there were no leftovers!” Thank you for sharing, Allison! Go Team FCPS!! 

This morning, I was pleased to be part of a panel discussion at an annual Parent Summit sponsored by the Jewish Community Relations Council, the Anti-Defamation League, and the American Jewish Committee on sharing best practices for preventing and addressing antisemitism in our schools. Learning happens best in community and this morning’s conversation was a great reminder of the importance of staying in community especially when we have challenging topics and conversations to support. 

What a fabulous week ahead!! I can’t believe it, but we are almost halfway through February. “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.”  ― Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities. During these last several weeks, we have successfully navigated innumerable challenges, and together, we have done it with grace.  As we anticipate the spring of hope, we know we must plan ahead knowing we will continue to both face and meet new challenges in the coming weeks and months.  Having worked through the last several weeks inspires confidence that we will not only meet these new challenges; but together we will rise in ways we might not have imagined possible. We’ve got this !! 

Take good care,

Michelle Reid, Ed.D.
Superintendent